Utah House backs tele-mental health

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Mental health professionals may soon be able to make a different sort of house calls  via videoconferencing, the Internet and other communications technologies.

The House voted 68-0 on Monday to pass HB56 to allow that. Rep. Ronda Menlove, R-Garland, says such treatment has already been happening, although it has not been allowed expressly under law  which it is for many other health care professionals.

"This is a case of legislation catching up with technology," she said.

Menlove added that the bill may bring more mental health services to rural Utah where there aren't as many therapists. And it would also allow people moving to Utah to continue their therapy with their out-of-state therapist for 45 days, without the therapist needing to get a Utah license.